Optimizing Customer Delivery Services

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering items to customers are disclosed. In one embodiment, an initial delivery schedule is established. The delivery schedule comprises a plurality of slots representing delivery times and delivery locations for the customers, wherein the slots are assigned as a result of a collaborative process. A set of pre-selected additional customers are identified for possible scheduling of any open slot. In real-time, additional slots in the initial delivery schedule are automatically identified. The additional slots represent a capacity to provide the item to one or more additional customers. One or more target customers are contacted to fill the additional slots. The target customers are automatically selected from the set of pre-selected additional customers based upon a target customer location relative to delivery locations associated with the slots adjacent to the additional slot. Customers may also pick up items from a delivery vehicle parked at a centralized location.

1 . A method for delivering items to a plurality of customers, comprising:
 establishing an initial delivery schedule comprising a plurality of slots representing delivery times and delivery locations for the customers, wherein the items are to be delivered to each of the customers at an assigned delivery time and delivery location, the assigned delivery time resulting from a collaborative negotiation with the customer;   identifying, by a computer system, a set of pre-selected additional customers for possible scheduling of any open slot;   automatically identifying in real-time an additional slot in the initial delivery schedule, the additional slot representing a capacity to provide the item to one or more additional customers; and   contacting one or more target customers to fill the additional slot, wherein the target customers are automatically selected from the set of pre-selected additional customers based upon at least a target customer location relative to delivery locations associated with the slots adjacent to the additional slot.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving new customer requests for the items;   based upon the real-time capacity to deliver the items, using an automatic collaborative process to establish a new slot for the new customer;   updating the initial delivery schedule when the new customer has accepted the new slot; and   using the automatic collaborative process to identify alternative slots for the new customer when the new customer has not accepted the new slot.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving real-time delivery vehicle location information from a navigation system; and   using the real-time delivery vehicle location information to select the target customers and further qualify the additional customer to be contacted.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing just-in-time instructions to a delivery vehicle operator while executing the delivery schedule.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the just-in-time instructions include one or more of preparation directions for an item to be delivered in an upcoming slot and driving directions to arrive at an upcoming slot. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing real-time information to customers regarding an order status and an expected delivery time.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the targeted stimulation is associated with providing the item on a current day or a future day. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scheduling a pick-up order for a customer, the pick-up order allowing the customer to pick-up items at or near a delivery time and delivery location previously scheduled for another customer or at a pick-up time at a mutually agreed-upon pick-up location.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the initial delivery schedule further comprises:
 generating an optimized delivery route that is selected to minimize driving time between delivery locations.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dynamically generating in real-time an updated delivery route in response to scheduling of a target customer in an additional slot or a replacement customer in a cancelation slot, the updated delivery route accounting for the driving time to and from delivery locations associated with the target customer or replacement customer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting target customers and potential replacement customers based upon financial calculations that consider revenue and cost impact of scheduling each customer.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing customer information in a customer database; and   selecting the target customers and potential replacement customers from the customer database based upon the associated customer information.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a neighbor delivery request that is associated with a current customer on the initial delivery schedule; and   scheduling a delivery for neighbor at or near the delivery time for the current customer.   
     
     
         14 . A system for delivering items to customers, comprising:
 a processor;   an interactive scheduler module configured to maintain a schedule of times and locations for delivering the items to a plurality of customers;   a manager module configured to continuously evaluate the schedule in real-time and identify available slots representing capacity to deliver items to one or more additional customers, the manager module further configured to identify target customers to fill the excess slots; and   an interactive communication module configured to contact the target customers to stimulate additional delivery requests for the available slots.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the schedule is associated with delivering items to commercial locations, and wherein the manager module is configured to identify excess capacity to deliver items to additional commercial locations in the available slots. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the schedule is associated with delivering items to residential locations, and wherein the manager module is configured to identify excess capacity to deliver items to additional residential locations in the available slots. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a dynamic route optimizer module configured to generate a delivery route for meeting the location and times on the schedule, the delivery route selected to minimize driving time between the locations; and   a just-in-time operations module configured to provide an operator with preparation directions for items to be delivered so that the items are ready at the appropriate delivery times.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the manager module is configured to identify conflicts among two or more delivery requests for the available slots and to select customers to fill the available slots using an interactive collaborative process to optimize a revenue and expense balance for deliveries to the selected customers. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a database of potential customers accessed by the manager module to identify the target customers.   
     
     
         20 . A method for identifying and scheduling locations for recurring delivery services, comprising:
 automatically identifying target properties within a target area, the target properties selected using parameters based upon distances between the properties and potential revenue from the properties;   stimulating requests for the delivery services from the target properties within the target area;   receiving requests from the target properties for the delivery services at proposed times; and   automatically evaluating, by a computer system, each of the proposed times to generate a delivery schedule by accepting requested times or identifying alternative times using a customer collaboration process.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 providing property information associated with the target properties, the information retrieved from a property database.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the property information includes an employee count for one or more tenants at the property. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the property information includes one or more of a list of tenants at the property, a list of service facilities at the property, and a list of service facilities within a designated distance of the property. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein stimulating requests for the delivery services further comprises:
 automatically initiating one or more of a telephone call, an electronic mail message, and a text message to tenants within the target area.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the delivery schedule is generated to optimize sales at selected properties in consideration of travel time between properties. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein stimulating requests for the delivery services further comprises:
 offering one or more available delivery times to a property tenant, wherein the available delivery times are selected based upon a distance between a target selected property and a previously scheduled property.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 identifying the target properties based upon an expected rate at which the properties will request the delivery service in response to a stimulated request.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the target area is selected based upon an assigned service territory. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)